[SPOILER - highlight to read]: Sorry Sas, I had to post it (please log in to view the image).
Drew Karpyshyn was asked by NewGuy01 the power difference between Revan as of Knights of the Old Republic and Revan as of The Old Republic to help us grasp a better understanding on Darth Malak's power. Here is his response:
"[...] On some days, the younger, pre-rebirth Revan might be stronger, on other days the wiser, more mature older Revan might have the upper hand. It depends on all sorts of circumstances. The example I give is with pro athletes. Is Tiger Woods from 2000 better than Tiger from 2006? One was younger and hit the ball farther, the other was wiser and had more control of his game. If they played a match, who knows who would win? If they played 10 matches, I doubt one version would win them all. So, really, who is stronger? I feel the same way about Revan."
―Drew Karpyshyn (Author)
- - - - -
Darth Malak's Combat Overview Thread [UPD 7/21/2014]: http://www.comicvine.com/profile/da...overview/97192/
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
Last edited by Jaggarath on Jul 21st, 2014 at 08:42 PM
To be honest, I could really care less what was your original question to Drew Karpyshyn.
All that matters was his answer, which was more beneficial then any email from him ever.
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
I questioned Drew on the effects the regaining of his mask [and thus, his memories] had on Revan as a character and forceful, and how dramatic they were. I was curious to hear whether or not his regained knowledge of the Dark Side had heightened his potency with the Force overall, as the novel seemed to imply that.
He apparently took that as me asking who was stronger between KotOR Revan and SWTOR Revan, which wasn't exactly what I was asking.
Ant is arguing that the answer provided proves KotOR Revan may have been physically superior to SWTOR Revan, whilst the latter wiser and more controlled.
Really, Revan was ever learning according to Kreia, ever seeking more knowledge more secrets the force had to reveal, he was a master duelist, malak was powerful but his tactics by attacking his master in battle ship to ship reveals his lack of confidence and therefore in my mind his personal belief that revan would smite him.
I'd say it was more of Malak being a cunning tactician. He (almost) killed two birds with one stone. Even if Malak is considered the brawns of the duo, he still had to at some point start plotting Revan's downfall.
Darth Malak was preparing himself for a second confrontation (duel) with Revan. Darth Malak didn't plot in advance the Jedi Strike Team at all, he simply took advantage of the situtation when it appeared.
In terms of a tactian, Darth Malak was pretty awful. During the time he was the Dark Lord, his only notable accomplishment besides losing in the Sith "order's greatest defeat," was the destruction of the Jedi Enclave.
"His stratagems were painfully obvious, intending to crush all resistance everywhere. There was little thought beyond the complete destruction of anything that opposed him." --GOTO
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
You are wrong, actually. It is a shame to see people don't try out all possible dialogue options in Knights of the Old Republic.
"You betrayed me from afar. You were afraid to face me, Malak." "No! I was prepared to face you, Revan. But fate presented me with a better option. I saw my opportunity and seized it."
--Revan and Darth Malak on the Star Forge (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)
---- ---- ----
Do not forget that shortly before this, Darth Malak dueled Darth Revan in his first attempt to defeat him.
He was able to press the confrontation until both opponents were "desperate", not Darth Revan ultimately prevailed, slicing off Darth Malak's jaw.
"Malak's most distinguishing feature, his steel jaw, disguises a vicious lightsaber wound inflicted by his former Master in their desperate final battle."
―Star Wars Insider 88: Virtual Sith
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
That being said, I'm sure canonically Revan goes on about how great redemption is instead, and since that prolongs the conversation, a lot of people pick it more. I believe the betray from afar option shortens the dialogue.
I think what makes most people assume Malak is weak comes from the fact that Revan and co fights through armies of battle droids and Dark Jedi, fights Bastila three times(canonically), fights through a droid factory, and then fights Malak. Sure, "in a book that battle would have been a brutal, hard fought affair spread over multiple pages," but Revan still had to fight through the entire Star Forge, a nexus, through amped Jedi and super droids, just to fight an amped Malak anywhere from two-six times. No ones going to think highly of someone after that.
In total there were 8 captive Jedi on the Star Forge, not 6. Educate yourself.
Assuming full Lightside completion, you fight him 3 times.
Assuming full Darkside completion, you drain 5 of the Jedi for yourself.
That being said, it is unlikely Revan defeated Darth Malak fully every-time. He was most likely only half-injured.
A mere Jedi's left-over Force reserve is not going to be able to fully replenish Darth Malak on the brink of death.
---- ---- ---- "You must go now, Revan. The Star Forge feeds the power of your old apprentice. If you do not stop him soon he will become too powerful for even you to stop."
--Elder Council (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic)
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
Last edited by Jaggarath on Jul 24th, 2014 at 06:12 PM
I no longer consider the two times Darth Malak replenished his health from the Jedi and then Revan forcing him to replenish another Jedi as a decisive defeat. I honestly doubt the leftovers of one of the Jedi's force reserve even equivalent to a half of Darth Malak's. His power on the Star Forge came from the dark energies of the space-station itself, not the Jedi.
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
I doubt that Revan would be able to fight Malak 9 times after traveling through the Star Forge, which is why I gave an estimate.
These are just your theoretical numbers of times Revan fights Malak. I've never seen a =ny definite number given. As I've said before, I also don't believe the fight goes exactly as it's shown in game, so you already know how I feel about these numbers anyway.
Agreed, but I wasn't disputing that. The point is Malak is the last in a series of much more impressive feats of endurance. No one's going to think as highly as you do when he's gone through armies prior.
Malak was still beaten multiple times after traveling through the Star Forge with only two other people. The point is, Malak looks less impressive given that combined with the fact that he is amped, not that Malak isn't impressive.
You weren't really giving an estimate though. You said "just to fight an amped Malak anywhere from two-six times." That is incorrect.
I honestly don't give a shit how much you care about those numbers, though you should accept them, for they follow the databanks.
"The Sith Lord had grotesquely adapted the Rakatan device to draw energy directly from chained Jedi captives. He replenished his life force from the captives by draining theirs."
―Star Wars Databanks: Darth Malak
Due to the fact he drained a plural amount of Jedi canonically, the minimum amount of times Darth Malak had to fight Revan is 3 (one time without drain, two with drain). However, to achieve a full lightside character, (which is recognized by Drew Karpyshyn and other sources as the canonical version of Knights of the Old Republic Revan) you free the other Jedi captives so they don't get drained by Darth Malak.
Excuse yourself, but many people do. NewGuy01 and Intrepid37 are among examples.
He was defeated once really. Leftovers of a captive average Jedi Knight's Force reserve is not going to be able to fully replenish even half of his health. They really didn't have much effect on the battle (game-mechanics aside).
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
Actually, in fact, the Knights of the Old Republic Prima Guide recognizes that if Revan didn't intervene with Darth Malak draining the Jedi, survival was highly unlikely.
"Normally, Malak’s “regeneration” from the life of the imprisoned Jedi would mean you’d face him in combat until he snapped the last of your powers and then defeated you, but you have options."
―Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic Prima Guide
__________________ "There is only Revan. Only he can shape this galaxy as it is meant to be shaped."
Jul 21st, 2014 08:37 PM
I no longer consider the two times Darth Malak replenished his health from the Jedi and then Revan forcing him to replenish another Jedi as a decisive defeat. I honestly doubt the leftovers of one of the Jedi's force reserve even equivalent to a half of Darth Malak's. His power on the Star Forge came from the dark energies of the space-station itself, not the Jedi.
